Do you have trouble sleeping? Can’t calm your mind before bed? There’s a certain noise that can help you sleep better – and no, it’s not white noise! Let’s talk about green noise.
What is green noise?
Green noise is a kind of sound that has equal energy throughout the whole sound spectrum. Simply put, this sound has the same balance throughout low, mid and high frequencies but with extra concentration on the lower end.
Green noise has a variety of uses, including sound therapy, relaxation, and sound masking. It is also used to test and investigate many phenomenons in engineering and scientific research. The reason it is termed “green” is because it resembles how green light has an even distribution of energy throughout the visible light spectrum.
Is green noise good for sleep?
In short, yes, green noise seems to have a positive impact on sleep. There is anecdotal evidence from individuals claiming that using green noise enhanced their quality of sleep. With a frequency of around 500 hz, as reported by Huffington Post, the green noise is effective in masking out disturbing noises such as barking of dogs, traffic, etc. This makes it easier to drift off to sleep by reducing unwanted distractions.
Although, it is important to remember that not everyone may react to green noise in the same manner and further research is required to properly understand the impact of green noise on sleep.
How is green noise better than white noise?
Green noise is quite similar to white noise as both of them have balanced energies at different frequencies. However, white noise is notorious for being a bit loud for many people trying to sleep, whereas green noise, in comparison, has a more concentrated low end frequency. This makes the green noise less harsh and more pleasant on the ears.
What does green noise sound like?
Green noise sounds a bit different to other types of sounds, like white noise or pink noise. Due to its frequency being around 500hz, there are fewer waveform vibrations in the sound spectrum of the green noise. This makes it similar to natural sound, effects like a gentle breeze, rustling leaves or a soothing hum. These natural sounds are calming for the body and soothe the mind resulting in reduced stress, better sleep quality and improved sleep time. As mentioned earlier, green noise is also able to tune out any unwanted distractions due to its low frequency.
Where can I find green noise?
Green noises can be found in natural sources in the environment. Some examples include waterfalls, a gentle breeze and rustling leaves. In addition, some electronic gadgets, such air purifiers or white noise generators, can be programmed to produce green noise as well.
If you need to reproduce green noise for better sleep, try searching for natural sounds on a streaming platform or app such as Calm and play the sound through a speaker or headphones while you drift off.
Should you try green noise for better sleep?
So, can green noise help you sleep better? Using green noise for better sleep can be a personal choice, and it may not be suitable for everyone. While more research is required to completely understand the effects of green noise on sleep, present data indicates that green noise helped some people get better quality sleep with improved sleep time. So, if you’re interested in giving it a try, there are many apps and websites that offer green noise recordings which you may use as a sleep aid.